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It has been the HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) that has proved the most fruitful opportunity at Sha Tin so far for Aidan O’Brien, who hopes the switch to a race he has won three times before will be an aid to the popular Luxembourg.
The five-year-old son of Camelot joins Coolmore Stud's stallion ranks in 2025 so this will be a last hurrah in an exemplary career which has seen him claim a Group 1 in each season he has been in training.
Luxembourg was beaten a short-head by Romantic Warrior in last year's HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), which has prompted a step up in trip to Sunday's (8 December) LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.
"We thought he ran a great race last year," O'Brien said. "He's a very high-class horse. Last year he was coming home very well and he was just beaten on the line, it looked as if we'd had run him over a mile and a half it would have suited him.
"He ran a very good race in the Breeders' Cup Turf (sixth), much better than you'd think. He's off to stud after this. He's been a great horse, big strong and consistent. Obviously, he wasn't always first string but we're looking forward to it, see what happens."
O'Brien has won this race twice with the admirable Highland Reel (2015 & 2017) as well as in 2020 with Mogul. Luxembourg is joined by Continuous, the Japanese-bred son of Heart's Cry who claimed last year's G1 St Leger (2800m) and took a Group 3 over 2000m in August back home in Ireland.
"Continuous is probably more forward than he's been all year," the trainer added.
'Things haven't really worked for him yet this year but he is in good form, very happy with his work. A mile and a half and nice ground should be fine for him.'
Two three-year-old fillies represent the powerhouse stable in the Cup. Ryan Moore partners Content, who gave her legendary late sire Galileo a 100th individual Group or Grade 1 winner in the Yorkshire Oaks (2400m).
Dubawi filly Wingspan, from one of Coolmore's foremost families, only made her racecourse debut in April but finished a place ahead of Luxembourg in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
"We had the choice of the races for Wingspan and we think the mile and a quarter will be fine for her," O'Brien said.
"She'll go forward, she's very straightforward and progressive.
"Content can be keen and we think the pace of the race will suit her. She ran in America last time (when sixth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf) and the pace wasn't really fast enough for her. We thought going back will suit and get her relaxed."
Reflecting on an event he returns to each year, he said: "This is a very special meeting. It's a beautiful track, ground, facilities. The hospitality is incredible and the prize money is brilliant.
"The supporters, fans, it's incredible really, and very exciting for racing all over the world. We can bring them together, we can get a rating on them and a handle on where the best horses are, and who is the best."
O'Brien is perhaps not here with his strongest ever squad from an operation that sets the standard in world racing, but suggested he could yet pick up a prize if luck went his way.
"Obviously they're not favourites but they are very well," he said. "We believe that it could happen. Obviously, it's difficult. Variables that you don't control have to fall, that type of thing, but it is possible."
